Pant protector

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for protecting the fabric at the bottom of a pant leg. In particular, the pant protector prevents the bottom of a pant leg from slipping between a person&#39;s heel and the shoe bed when wearing open-backed shoes. The pant protector comprises an anklet, which is worn around the ankle, and adjustable to the size of an individual&#39;s ankle. The anklet is connected to a heel strap, which runs directly down the back of one&#39;s ankle and to the back of one&#39;s shoe. The heel strap is connected to a heel loop, which attaches to the heel of a person&#39;s shoe. The pant protector is external to the shoe, but is connected such that when an individual is wearing long pants, the pant protector is not seen.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to protecting clothing. More specifically, the device prevents fabric at the bottom of a pant leg from slipping between the heel of an individual's foot and the shoe bed when wearing an open-backed shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When an individual wears long pants with open-backed shoes fabric at the bottom of the pants has the tendency to move between the individual's heel and the shoe bed. This causes the fabric to become worn, frayed and deformed. In addition, the pant leg can become bunched under the foot creating an unsightly fashion statement.

Accordingly, there is a longstanding need for an item that is functional and easily used to prevent fabric from slipping between the foot and shoe bed. An item such as the pant protector would allow a person to wear pants with open-backed shoes, without risking their pants or fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method that prevents a pant leg from slipping between the heel of a person's foot and the shoe bed when wearing open-backed shoes. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an anklet for attachment to an anklet, a heel loop for attachment to a shoe heel, and a heel strap that connects the anklet to the heel loop.

An exemplary embodiment of a pant protector in accordance with the present invention comprises an anklet, which is an adjustable piece secured around the ankle. The anklet is connected to a heel strap, a wide piece of material that is placed down the back of an individual's ankle. The heel strap forms a barrier such that pants cannot slip between a person's heel and the shoe bed. The bottom of the heel strap is connected to a heel loop, which is looped around the heel of a shoe. While the pant protector is worn on the outside of the shoe, the device is not visible in the preferred embodiment, because long pants extend past the placement of the heel loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the present will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a pant protector in accordance with an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates how the pant protector is worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of a pant protector 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1, and shown in use in FIG. 2. The pant protector 1 includes an anklet 4 that wraps around a person's ankle 8 and is fastened with an anklet fastener 5. The anklet 4 can be made from any material, stretch or non-stretch. The anklet fastener 5 can also be any type of fastener such as Velcro®, hook and eye or snap. The anklet fastener 5 can be one part, or it could be composed of two parts, as embodied in 5A and 5B. This invention includes all types of fastening techniques, thus this list of fasteners does not compile an all-inclusive list. In addition, the addition of an anklet fastener 5 can be omitted, such that the anklet material could be tied together without the aid of an anklet fastener 5.

Another feature of the anklet 4 in general, is that it is adjustable, such that it fits ankles 8 of all sizes. The ability to adjust to different sizes of ankles can be done by the anklet 4 itself, or could be accomplished by the anklet fastener 5.

A heel strap 3 connects the anklet 4 at a first end 7 to the heel loop 2 at a second end 6. The preferred embodiment includes sewing the heel strap 3 to the anklet 4 and heel loop 2 at locations 7 and 6, respectively. However, this invention also foresees other fastening techniques. The heel strap 3 is long enough to extend past the bottom of a person's heel and shoe bed 9 when in use. It is also within the purview of this invention to have an adjustable heel strap. The heel strap 3 can be made of any type of material, stretch or non-stretch. The heel strap 3 is wide enough such that it does not move away from the back-center of a person's ankle 8, which would allow the bottom of a pant leg to slip under one's foot. The heel strap 3 is also wide enough to form a barrier such that the fabric at the bottom of a pant leg will not slip between the bottom of a person's heel and the shoe bed 9.

A heel loop 2 is connected to the bottom of the heel strap 3 at a second end 6 in the preferred embodiment. The heel loop 2 wraps around the heel 10 of a shoe. The heel loop 2 is preferably worn at the point where the heel 10 of a shoe meets the sole of the shoe, but this invention contemplates different placements of the heel loop, such as around the bottom of the heel 10 itself.

The heel loop 2 is preferably a stretch material, such that the heel loop 2 facilitates the heel strap 3 to remain taut against the back of one's heel. The heel loop 2 is also stretchy to allow for varying widths of shoe heels. However, this invention spans the use of heel loop made from material that is non-stretchable.

The heel loop 2 is preferably a loop of material, or a ring of material. However, it is also within the purview of this invention for the heel loop 2 to be a solid cupped piece such that an entire shoe heel 10 is covered with material. The heel loop 2 could also be embodied as an open piece of material with its own fastener. In addition this open piece of material could be fastened by tying the two ends together, in order for a loop to be formed.

The heel strap 3 and heel loop 2 is worn on the outside of a shoe. However, in the preferred embodiment, it should not be visible because long pants would extend past the heel loop 2 as shown in FIG. 2.

The preferred method of using the pant protector 1 is to loop the heel loop 2 around the heel 10 of a shoe, extend the heel strap 3 up along the back of the ankle 8, wrap the anklet 4 around the ankle 8, and secure with the fastener 5. However, other methods of utilizing the pant protector 1 are within the scope of the invention.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A pant protector, comprising: an anklet for attachment to an ankle; a heel loop for attachment to a shoe heel; and a heel strap attached to the anklet at a first end and attached to the heel loop at a second end.
 2. The pant protector in claim 1, wherein the anklet is secured with a fastener.
 3. The pant protector in claim 1, wherein the anklet or the fastener in claim 2 allows for adjustment to the size of an ankle.
 4. The pant protector in claim 1, wherein the heel strap runs down the back of an ankle.
 5. The pant protector in claim 1, wherein the heel strap is wide enough and long enough to prevent a pant leg from slipping between a person's heel and the shoe bed.
 6. The pant protector in claim 1, wherein the heel loop keeps the heel strap taut such that a pant leg cannot slip between an individual's heel and the shoe bed.
 7. A method for protecting the fabric at the bottom of a pant leg, the method comprising: connecting a heel loop to the heel of a person's shoe; running the heel strap up the back of a person's ankle; and securing the anklet to one's ankle.
 8. The method in claim 9, wherein the anklet is adjustable to ankle size.
 9. The method in claim 9, wherein the heel strap is wide enough to stay centered on the back of one's ankle.
 10. The method in claim 9, wherein the heel strap is adjustable.
 11. The method in claim 9, wherein the heel loop is flexible to fit around a variety of shoe heel widths. 